Roller mill



Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,223

c. T. HOWSON ROLLER MILL original Filed July 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 712M855.- A fliwzw TJ HQ M, -Mwa Jan; 5 1926.

C. T. HOWSON ROLLER MILL Original F l y 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 larle) 1.7191160, Ira/anion Jan. 5 1926.

C. T. HOWSON ROLLER MILL Original File u y 1, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 #6010, lit/87th.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MAI ' fifio/w c. T. HOWSON ROLLER MILL Original Filed July 31, 191

Jan. 5 1926.

our V ZarZeJ Z "1506020, 171081110]? Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. HOWSON, OF SILVER CREEK, NEW YORK.

ROLLER MILL.

Continuation of application Serial No. 247,560, filed July 81, 1918. This application filed July 12, 1920. Serial No. 395,461.

'10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. HOWSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Silver Creek, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller Mills, of which thefollowing is a specification. Y

My invention relates to improvements in roller mills, and more particularly to that type generallyreferred to as self-contained roller mills in which the various parts are ciation with a pair of reduction rolls so that the stock passing through said feeding or distributing mechanism will be distributed evenly throughout the lengths of said rolls.

Another object of my invention is to provide means within a mill of this kind whereby, in the course or process of making flourjlhe stock or middlings are separated to direct the finer and coarser particles thereof into two different channels, the finer particles being delivered to a pair of reductionrolls and the coarser to a middlings grinder, both so associated that (the stock or material passing through them are brought together in considerably finer form and conveyed together to, or separately .if desired, a bolting reel or reels, thus assuring greater production from a given quantity of stock. A further object of my invention is to provide means for separating the middlings according to fineness,rreducing or grinding the'scparated parts separately, and directing the separated parts into a channel common to both, from which it may be led to boltin means for bolting out the flour therefrom. i

A .further object is to provide a machine of this kind with an improved feeder or distributor whereby the material passing therethrough may be retarded in its escape therefrom, whereby such material may be delivered therefrom in varying quantities, and whereby the distribution may be extended over varying lengths of the feeder or distributor, if desired.

A further object is to provide an improved conveyer arranged partly within an enclosure and provided with means for discharging the material conveyed by said conveyer laterally from said enclosure.

A further object of my invention is to provide means within the roll section of a roller mill of this kind for grading middlings and delivering the same to two different means of reduction and sending the products of the two different reducing means to suitable bolting means for bolting the flour therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to grade middlings within the reel section and to deliver one grade thereof to a suitable grinder or reducing device and return the same to the reel section for bolting out the flour therefrom.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in a machine of this type having the usual break and reduction rolls and bolting reels, a reduction or grinding means separate and distinct from said rolls, whereby the capacity for reducing the stock in its course through the machine is increased, which capacity in present day machines is insufficient to employ the full capacity of the reels employed for bolting out the flour from the stock.

\Vith these and other objects in view to be hereinafter described, my invention consists in' the novel features of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of mechanisms and parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine representative of one embodiment of my invention, parts of the machine being broken the mill.

away and the side walls removed therefrom to better illustrate operating portions of the mill.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 3-*3, Fig. 2, looking toward the left.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged crosssection taken on line 4-4, Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through my improved feeder or distributer.

Fig. 6 'is .-a transverse section taken through the lower portion of the machine on line 6 6, Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 77, Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of several parts of the mill showing the flow of material through the mill: l

The preferred embodunent of my invention is shown by means of the several ligures above referred to, inwhich the reference numeral 1 designates the complete unit or mill divided into three :parts or-sections 2, 3, 4;. Said sectionsare separated by transverse frame members or walls 5, 6, with the'outer ends of the compartments 2 and at closed by frame-members or walls 7, 8.

The first part of section 2 maybe termed the roll section, although it contains other parts directly associated with the rolls, as will be hereinafter described. The second or immediate part or section 8 is employed mainly to receive a portion of the driving mechanism, an elevator by means of which stock may be elevated from a low point of the machine to a high point, and conveyer tubes with screw-conveyers therein for purposes to be hereinafter explained. The third part or sectiond-may-be termed the reel section, due to the fact that inthis section bolting reels are employed, although there are other parts of the machine in this section directly associated with said bolting reels, such as hoppers, conveyers, etc. The various elements confined within said parts or sections will .be hereinafter fully described with reference to itllOll relative arrangement, construction, and functions.

The frame member or wall 7 .may .be termed the .headfend wall, while the frame member or wall 8 may be terinedthe tail-end wall, both of :these walls forming, part of the housing. These end walls and the intermediate walls 5, 6 are )referably castings formed to the shape *0 the mill transversely. and the various rotatable .parts of the mill are journaled in these ails or in suitable bearings applied .tosaid walls, said walls serving also to support other parts of Said walls serve as transverse frame members of the mill and are connected at the bottom by longitudinallyulisthereof.

posed angle irons 9 serving as sills to provide proper bearing faces for contact with the floor, or other foundation on which the mill is set. Longitudinally-disposed angle irons 10 connect the upper ends of these fl hese beams are secured to opposite side' edges of the frame members and extend a distance forward orin-advance of the headend frame member 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. riveted or otherwise fastened at opposite ends-to the-outer ends of said channel beams, and midway between the ends thereof a shaft bearing 13 is secured in which the main or drivingshaft 14: is journaled, said shaft extending inwardly through the roll section and being suitably journaled in the head-end frame member 7 and the intermediate member 5.

The frame work of the machine is closed atthe top, bottom and sides to form a housing or closure for the machine, and for this purpose top walls 15 are provided which receive support from the opposite longitudinal channel irons 10 at the upper ends of the transverse frame members, said top walls being secured to said channel irons in any suitable manner for closing the upper ends of the sections 2 and 1. Side walls '16 are provided which close the sides of the machine and may be secured in any suitable manner to the side edges of said transverse frame members. The bottom of the machine is closed by a bottom wall or machine floor 17 which rests upon the inner faces of the horizontal webs of said angle irons or sills 9.

To the mainor driving shaft 14, the main pulley 18 is secured, said pulley being positioned outside of the transverse: bearing member 12. i

A feed spout 19 is arranged in the top of the housing, through which the grain is fed into the machine, and a suitable cut-off or valve 20 provided within said feed spout to regulate the flow of the grain into the machine, or .to entirely shut off the flow. This spout, or feeding .device as it may be :termed, projects into the roll section 2 of the machine between the transverse frame .members .7 and 5, and delivers the grain onto a shoe or vibrating shaker 21 having a distributing device 22 at one end Said shoe and the distributing device .may be constructed andoperated in any approved manner, its purpose being to receive the grain from the feeding device, distribute the same evenly and deliver the same properly distributedto a pair of break rolls 24, which break rolls, due to the A transverse bearing member 12 is ill fact that other break rolls are employed, I designate the first pair of break rolls. These break rolls are situated underneath the discharge opening of said distributing device 22, and said'distributing device is substantially of the same length as the break rolls 23, 24 with which it is directly associated, and by reason of said distributing device delivering the grain in a thin stream or flow the full length thereof, said rolls will be effective from end to end.

Arranged beneath said break rolls is a scalpel 26 between which and said rolls a hopper 27 is situated, said hopper extending from the head-end frame member 7 to the intermediate frame member 5 and said scalper being of corresponding length. The scalper may be of any approved con struction capable of separating the stock fed thereto so that part of it may be delivered to a bolting reel, to be hereinafter described, for bolting the flour therefrom, and part of it to a second pair of rolls 28, 29, situated in the roll section 2 beneath said scalpel. The particular scalper shown comprises a rotary brush 30 and a suitable screen 31 of semi-cylindrical formation in cross section, said screen being secured to a screen-frame 32 suitably fastened to the two transverse frame members 7 and 5, or otherwise maintained in position within said roll section. Said screen frame 32 is preferably inclined so that the screen will tail freely at a low point, asat 33, and it may be pivotally and adjustably supported in any suitable manner, whereby the screen 31 may be adjusted toward or from the rotary brush 30 to regulate the amount of stock, such as flour and middlings, to be removed from the bran, and to more effectively clean the bran.

Beneath the semi-cylindrical screen 31, a hopper 34: is arranged, which also extends the full length of the roll section 2 and which is closed at its lower end and has a semicylindrical portion 35 at said lower end in which a screw conveyer 36 is arranged, for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

The flour and middlings passing through the screen 31 enter the hopper 34 and are conveyed by the conveyer 36 into the reel section 4rof the frame, as will be hereinafter described, while the bran with flour adhering thereto is carried over the low side of the screen frame and delivered into a hopper 37 situated beneath the hopper 34. The low end of said screen frame overhangs the corresponding side of said hopper 34 so that assurance is had that none of the bran will be delivered into the hopper 34. The hopper 37 has an open lower end delivering to the second pair of break rolls 28, 29 through which the bran is passed, and as this bran has middlings and flour adhering thereto, it is further broken up in passing through the second pair of break rolls and is then delivered into a he, per 38 situated beneath said second pair of break rolls, said hopper delivering the same to a scalper 39 of any approved construction capable of separating the stock fed thereto so that part of it, flour and middlings, may be delivered to a bolting reel, to be hereinafter described, for bolting the flour therefrom, and part of it into a chute 40 by means of which it is delivered out of the machine to be bagged or otherwise disposed of, the material passing through the chute being bran freed of all particles capable of further use in the process of pro ducing flour.

I have shown the scalper to be of the same construction as the scalper 26 hereinbefore described, and through the screen of said scalper 39 the finer particles delivered thereto are passed and enter a hopper il. This hopper, like the hopper 3a, is closed at its lower end and has a semi-cylindrical portion 42 at said lower end in which a screw conveyer 43 is arranged.

The material having been worked through the screen of the scalper '26 and delivered to the conveyer 36, as hereinbefore described, is carried by said eonveyer through a conveyer tube 44 extending from the inter mediate frame member 5 to a centrifugal bolting reel l5 in the reel section 4- of the machine between the intermediate frame member 6 and the tail end frame member 8, which reel I term the first break reel. The flour is bolted out through the silk or wire of said bolting reel and is delivered against the inclined wall 46 of a hopper 47 occupying with its upper or wide portion substantially the entire width of the machine. From the hopper at"? the flour is delivered into a second hopper a8 situated beneath one-half of the hopper and therefore occupying substantially one-half the width of the machine. Said second hopper is closed at its lower end and may be substantially semi-cylimlrical, as at 2-9, and in this semi-cylindrical portion a screw conveyer 50 is arranged which serves to convey the flour rearwardly toward the tail end of the machine, or otherwise, for delivery therefrom through a suitable outlet, which may be led to any suitable point or have connection with any suitable point for storing or packing the flour.

The middlings from the material within the first break reel 45, tail over the end of said reel and are delivered into a hopper 51 at the rear end of the machine, which hopper leads to the rear end of a conveyor tube 52 in which a screw conveyor 53 arranged. This conveycr conveys the terial to the bottom of an elevator ranged in the intermediate section rhis elevator may be of any suitable construction, and by means of it the middlings are carried up into a conveyer tube 55, said conveyer tube being also situated in the intermediate part or section 3 of the machine and feeding into and being alined with a feeder or distributer 56 situated in the roll part or section of the machi e and extending from the head end frame member 7 to the adjacent intermediate frame member, 5. In preferred form the conveyer tube is made to enter the end of the feeder tube or enclosure 5'7, at 58. rrrranged within said conveyer tube and said feeder tube is a screw conveyor 59 by means of which the middlings delivered into the corn voyer tube 55 is directed forwardly into the feeder tube 57, said conveyor being suitably journaled in the head end frame member 'T and in the intermediate frame member (3. At the front end of said convey er a flanged hub 60 is provided, to the flange of which sweeps or rods 6i. are secured, said rods extending rearwardly from the flange of said hub and having their rear ends fastened to the spiral blade or portion of said conveyor, as at (32.

The feeder tube is provided at one side with a discharge slot or elongated outlet 63 which preferably extends the full length of the tube, and at one end of said tube a flanged collar G-lis arranged which has an upward extension 65 provided with a handle (36. In said flange, and more particularly in the upward extension thereof, a segmental slot 67 is formed through which is passed a stud screw 68 fastened into the intermediate frame member 5 and serving as a stop to limit the range of rotary movement of said feeder tube, due to the stop being engaged by the ends of said segmental slot when the tube reaches opposite extremes of its range of movement.

The flange 61': lies in contact with the intermediate frame member 5 and provides a suitable end bearing for said feeder tube. At the same time. said feeder tube recei hearing from the end of the j-onveyer tube 55 which is secured into said intermediate frame member 5 and projects throu; ;h the same so as to enter the flanged end of said feeder tube. By rotating the feeder tube, the lower edge of the slot or outlet 63 therein may be brought to a higher or lower plane. In other words, said lower edge may be brought closer to the lowest point of the tube or farther from such point and the middlings conveyed into said tube will necessarily be delivered along the full length of the tube before it can be discharged through the opening thereof, the sweeps or rods 61 serving to carry or sweep the middlings upwardly so that they are discharged in even flow or stream the entire length of the slot or outlet 63. I preferably provide said tube at the upper and lower edges of said slot or outlet with outstanding flanges 69, 70, respectively, which onable the tube to be reversed on machines where the locations of the sections 2, t3 and 4. are reversed.

The outstanding flange 70 at the lower edge of the slot or outlet (52-3 serves to prevent the middlings discharged following the curvature of the tube and particularly prevents the liner particles of the middli-ngs which may become freed from the coarser parts from adhering to the exterior surface or the feeder tube 57, and the flange at the upper edge of said slot or outlet, in addition to making it possible to reverse the tube as abore stated, acts as a ballle in the event of any of the material being thrown upwardly from within the tube, said material coming in contact with the upper flange and falling directly onto the lower flange or over the edge of the latter.

Said. feeder or distributor 5G delivers the middlings in an even stream onto the rear end of the shoe or vibrating shaker 21, and this shoe or shaker has a laterally inclined receiving table 71 beneath which an oppositely-inclined screen table is arranged, the screen 72 of said table closing the upper end of a short hopper 73. At the lower end of said screen 72 a solid or imperforated table portion 74 is provided, which serves as an extension of said screen 72. The middlings delivered onto the screen table are therefore graded at the rear end of the shoe or shaker 21, the finer particles passing through the screen 72 and the coarser particles being delivered over the solid or imperforate extension 74 for delivery into a middlings grinder 75 of any approved construction, which, in trade, is known as a device having a casing and a grinding rotor or rotatable grinding element within said casing, and having said rotor or grinding element acting to grind middlings to more effectively separate the flour-yielding matter from the coarser matter, and therefore, where in the claims reference is made to a middlings grinder it is not intended to mean a pair of rolls such as the break and reduction rolls described herein, or such rolls as usually referred to as break and reduction rolls, or co-acting rolls serving the purposes of such rolls. Said middlings grinder is separate and distinct from all rolls of the machine and'is suitably supported beneath the shoe or vibrating shaker 21. A flexible tube 76 is formed or secured on the screen extension 7% and enters the feeding opening of said grinder. The outlet of said grinder has a discharge tube 77 connected thereto.

Beneath the short hopper 73 a pair of reduction rolls 78, 79 is arranged, which, for convenience, I will refer to as the first reduction rolls, and between which the finer portion of the middlings graded in the grading device of the shoe or shaker are passed to be further reduced. The middlings reduced by these first reduction rolls are delivered intoa hopper 80 situated beneath said rolls, and the coarser portion of the middlings ground by and passed through the grinder 75 is delivered from the discharge tube 77 into said hopper 80 so that the middlings thus graded are brought en masse within said hopper. The lower end of said hopper is closed and formed semi-cylindrical, as at 81, and in this closed lower end a screw conveyeu 82 is arranged. This conveyor is continued through a conveyer tube 83 spanning the space between the intermediate members 5 and (3, said tube opening into a bolting reel 84s The shaft of said conveyer 82 is extended rearwardly and continued through said bolting reel, as at 85. Said bolting reel I term the first reduction reel and it is covered throughout a portion of its length with fine bolting silk' or wire 86, and has a cut-off or box-like structure 87 builtfaround its rear end, which rear end is covered with bolting silk or wire 88 p the portion 86 ofsaid reel. The reduced middlings and flour conveyed to this reel are separated therein owing to the flour passing or being worked through the fine mesh silk'or wire 86, while the coarser material or middlings, which cannot pass through said fine mesh silk, or 'wire, are directed to the rear end of said reel and passed or worked through the coarser mesh silk or wire 88. g V I The flour or finished product passed through the fine mesh portion of said first reduction reel 8 1 enters the hopper47 and strikes the inclined wall 89 of the hopper 47, said inclined wall being situated underneath said bolting reel. The flour or finished product is delivered from the hopper 17 into a hopper 90'which occupies a space beneath one-half the hopper 47.; and it may here be stated that the outlet of the hopper 47 is divided by a verticallydisposed wall. 91 rising from the meeting Walls at the upper ends of the hoppers 4:8 and 90 to form two passages 92, 93,'thus the flour or finished product from the first break reel is directed through the passage 92 into the hopper 48, as hereinbefore stated, while the flour or finished product from the first reduction reel 84 is delivered through the passage 93 into the hopper 90. The lower end of the hopper 9 is closed and formed se1ni-cylindrical, as at 94, and in this closed end a screw conveyer 95- is located. This conveyer 95 carries the flour or finished product to a suitable'outlet in the machine from which it may be led to any: suitable pointorhave connection with of coarser mesh than any suitable point for storing or packing the flour." This flour may be stored or packed separately from the flour or finished product delivered from the hopper 18,

hereinbefore referred to, or the flour or finished product from both the hoppers l8 and 90 may be led into a single storage hopper or receiving receptacle or package. It will be observed therefore that the different runs of flour may be stored separately or mixed together, as desired.

-The material within the first reduction reel 84 not passed through the finer mesh silk or wire-85 will be worked within, the portion of the reel covered with the coarser silk or wire 87 and the material passing through said coarser mesh silk or wire enters the cut-off or boX-like structure 87, which has a parti-cylindrical confining wall 96 provided with a discharge slot or opening 97 connecting said cut-offwith a conveyer tube 98 having a screw convefw-er 99 therein. Said discharge slot or opening is arranged at a level somewhat above the lowest point of said parti-cylindrical wall 96, and for this reason the bolting reel is provided with sweep arms or bars 100 which. serve to carry or sweep the material passing or Worked through the coarse silk or wire of said bolting reel into said slot or opening 97 for delivery to said conveyer tube 98. Said conveyer tube 98 extends forwardly through. the intermediate frame members 6 and 5, for a purpose to be presently described.

The tailings from the first reduction reel 84 are-discharged from the machine by any suitable means.

Located within the roll section and extending from the frame member 7 to the intermediate frame member 5 is a second feeder or distributer 101 constructed and operating in the same manner as the feeder or distributer 56, hereinbefore described, the rear end of the feeder tube of said feeder beingsupported by the front end ofthe conveyer tube 98, as and in the manner shown inFig. 5 in which the feeder tube 57 is supported by the front end of the conveyer tube '55. A detailed description of this second distributer or feeder 101 is not therefore deemed necessary, except to state that the conveyer 99 within the conveyor tube 98 is continued forwardly through the tube of the feeder 101 and that the rod or sweeps of this feeder have their rear ends fastened to the spiral blade of said conveyer at different points in the length thereof, substantially as explained with reference to the feeder 56: also that the elongated outlet is at the side opposite that of the outlet in the feeder tube 57, see Fig. 2. The spaced longitud-inally-arranged rods 61 of each of the feeders 56 and 101 form what may be termed a squirrel cage feeder.

lit

The middlings delivered from the cut-off of the first reduction ,reel are conveyed by the conveyer 99 into the feeder or distributer 101, and from the latter are discharged in an even flow or stream into a hopper 102 situated directly over and discharged between a second pair of reduction rolls 103, 104, said middlings being reduced by said rolls and delivered into a hopper 105 situated beneath said rolls, said hopper having its lower end closed and formed semi-cylindrical, as at 106, andin this lower end a screw conveyer 107 is arranged. This conveyor passes through a conveyer tube 108 extending rearwardly from the ,inner end of the hopper 105 and connects axially with the bolting reel 109, which reel may termed the secondreduction reel. The material from the hopper- 105 is thus conveyed by the conveyer 107 into saidsecond reduction reel.

Said second reduction reel is arranged within the hopper 90 and flour bolted through thesilk'or wire coveringof this reel and delivered to the bottom of said hopper, from which it is conveyed by the .conveyer 95 to a suitable.dischargeopening, as hereinbefore explained. Unsi ted material or offal tailsover the'rear end of said reel and issuitably discharged from the machinerfor storing or packing or for disposal ,in any other manner.

Returning to the material having passed between the second pair ofbreak rolls 28, 29, hereinbefore referred to, and hat ring been deliveredto the conyeyerdifi, said material is delivered a'earwardlythrough a conveyer tube 110 connected axially with a bolt ing reel 111, which. may betermed a second break reel. Said second break reel is situatedwit-hin the. hopper. Q8 and is covered throughout a portion of its glength with fine mesh silk or wire, through .which the flour from the materialentering the reel passes or is worked the same as provided for }in the first reduction reel Shsaid fine mesh silk or wire covering being situated directly within thehopper .48 so that the flour )assingtheret irough falls to the bottom 0 the hopper 4:8 and is conveyed by the conveyer to the flour outlet ot',.themachine, here inbefore first referred to, -for' sacking or storing the same;

At the .rear end, this second break reel is surrounded .by a cutoff O1 ',bOX-il ll(8 structure 112, which has a parti-cylindrical confiningv wall 113 and opens at 'll l into the conveyer tube 52 having the conveyor- 53 located therein. The rear or cutoff end of the bolting reel is constructed the same as the rear or cutoff of the first reduction reel 8% and the coarser material or middlings passing through said cutoff is conveyedforwardly-by said conveyer with the middlings-delivered veyer through the hopper 51 from the first break reel 45, said conveyer leading both materials to the elevator 54, which elevates the same to the conveyer tube The conveyer 59 in said conveyer tube conveys the materials, now thoroughly mixed, through the feeder or distributer 50 to what I have termed the middlings grader, forming part of the shoe or shaker 21, part of said material being passed through thethe fine mesh silk or wire of said reel while the coarser material is carriedon within the reel and passed or worked through the coarse silk or wire of the reel within the cutoff 87 from which point itis' conveyed by the conveyer 9.9:to the second feeder or distributerlOland from the latter to the sec ond pair of reduction rolls 103, 104, where it is again reduced in passing between said rolls and delivered into the hopper 105 and by the conveyer 107 within said hopper is carried to the second reduction reel 109, the flour passing through the silk or wire of said reel being delivered into the hopper 90 from which it is conveyed to a suitable outlet, hereinbefore referred to, for sacking or storage. The offal from the material within the second reduction reel' is tailed over the rear. end of said reel and is delivered outside of the machine, as hereinbefore explained, to be sacked or otherwise dis posed of. r

The break rolls 'may. be corrugated :in the ,usual manner while the reduction rolls are smooth surfaced. For the purpose of rotating one of each pair of said break and reduction rolls I employ a belt 115 .driven from the main or drive shaft 14:, said belt passing around pulleys secured to the frontend shaft-parts of said rolls. It is, however, to be understood that these rolls may be driven in any other suitable manner.

. The rear-end shaft part of the other roll of each .of said pair of break and reduction rolls has a pulley secured thereto around allof which a belt 110 travels, said belt being situated in the intermediate section 8 of the inachine. From the rear-end shaft-part of one of said second break rolls the lower scalper 39 is driven {by means of a crossed belt 117 and the upper s lper 2G is driven from the rear'end sl- 1aftpart of one of said first breakfrol-ls by a crossed ,belt 118. Any suitable .means are; employed s t-h e the rietetmed a t -.1 f 50' P -re one of the rear-end-driven rolls from the driving shaft 14, which shaft extends rean wardly into said intermediate section.

The belt 115 driven by the main driving shaftlel at the front end of the machine also passes around a pulley secured to the shaft of the eonveyer 36 which last-mentioned shaft extends through the first break reel and projects out of the rear end of the machine, and from this rear-end point the remaining conveyers (excepting the conveyer 59 leading from the upper end of the elevator) and all the bolting reels of the machine are driven in any suitable manner.

The elevator is operated from one of the rear end shaft-parts of one of the first break or first reduction rolls, as may be desired, by means of a crossed belt 119, and as the upper shaft of said elevator extends both forwardly and rearwardly and projects with its front end through the front end of the machine, I drive the conveyor 59 from said front end by means of a sprocket and chain drive 120.

The middlings grinder has its shaft 121 projecting from its casing and on this shaft is a pulley 122 aroiiind which and a pulley 123 on the main shaft 14%, a belt passes. Said beltis therefore situated with- .in the roll section 2 of the machine and serves to operate said grinder directly from the main shaft.

The bolting reels are rotatable independently of the reel or beater shafts, or as they may be termed the continuations of the conveyor shafts.

The manner of rotating the various parts of my improved machine Ido not lay any claim to in this application, and the operation necessary to a full and clear understanding of the parts essential to this invention will bemade plain from the further description thereof.

The operation of the machine is as follows: I

The clean wheator other grain fed into the machine is delivered from the feed spout it) onto the vibrating shoe or shaker, which may be operated in any suitable manner and 'ironi this shoe or shaker it is directed between the tirst pair of break rolls 23, 24;, the wheat being suitably ground or crushed by raid rolls and delivered therefrom into the rotary scalpel 20, Part of the material iron'i this scalpcr is delivered by the convcyer 36 into the first break reel 15, while the coars r material or overtails, which does not pass through the sieve or screen of the scalpel, is celivered into the hopper 37 to the iecond pair of break rolls, 28, 29. The first b 'eak reel acts to bolt out all the flour from the material delivered thereinto, whichflour is directed through the hoppers 4i and 18 to the conveyer 50 to be conveyed out of the machine forstorage or packing,

as may be desired. The overtails or middlings from this reel are carried through the rear end thereof and directed into the hopper 51 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and built between ti rear end wall 8 and a wooden transverse wall 125 spaced therefrom, and from said hopper to the conveyer to be carried forward to the elevator 54 and be delivered by said elevator to the conveyer 59. Said conveyor conveys these overtails or iniddlings to the feeder or distributer 56 which delivers it to the rear end of the shoe or shaker 21 serving as a middlings grader, the finer material being directed through the screen 752 of said Iniddlings grader to the first pair of reduction rolls 78, 79, and the coarser material being dirooted to the middlings grinder 75. The materials reduced and ground respectively by said reduction rolls and grinder being brought en-niasse into the hopper from which it is conveyed by the conveyer 82 to the first reduction reel 8 1-. The fine mate rial delivered into this first reduction reel is belted out through the fine bolting silk or wire 86 and delivered as flour into the hopper 4-7 and from said hopper 47 into the hopper 90 to be conveyed out of the machine by the conveyer as a completed product.

The coarser material passing through said first reduction reel S 1 is passed or worked through the coarser mesh silk or wire 88 forming part of the cut-cit 87 and conveyed forwardly by the conveyer 99 into the roll section where it is delivered to the hopper 102 by the feeder 101, and from the hopper to the second pair of reduction rolls 103, 10st. The overtails or otfal from the material passing through said first reduction reel is delivered out of the machine for sacking or otherwise;

The iniddlings from said first reduction reel having been delivered to said second pair of reduction rolls 103, 104: are further reduced thereby and delivered into the hopper 105, from which it is conveyed rearwardly by the conveyer 10'. to the second reduction reel 109 where the flour is sifted out and delivered into the hopper 90 to be dis charged from the machine by the convever )5 as a finished product, for storing or sack" ing. The tailings or ofial not sifted out by this reel is carried out of the rear end of said second reduction reel and delivered out of the machine in any suitable manner. This portion of the operation therefore disposes of the iniddlings passed through the first break reel and the iniddlings passed through the first reduction reel and re-conveyed through the roll section of the machine. Such operation also disposes of the first run of flour passed through said first break reel and the second and third runs of flour passed respectively through the first and second reduction reels, the same time disposing of all ofial passed through said reduction reels.

The coarser first run material delivered to and broken up or crushed between the second pair of break rolls 28, 29, is passed through the hopper 38 and directed into the second scalper 39, the finer particles being worked through the sieve or screen of said scalper and directed into the hopper -l-1, while the coarse stuff is carried from the low end of said scalper into the chute 10, and by the latter delivered out of the machine for sacking, this being clean broad bran which may be sacked and sold.

The liner material delivered to the con veyer 1b is conveyed rearwardly to the second break reel 103', which is provided with a fine mesh silk or wire portion and a coarser mesh silk or wire portion within a cut-off, ashereinbefore stated. The flour is bolted out of this reelthrough the finer mesh silk or'wire portion and deliveredto the bottom of the hopper 18 where it is conveyed out of the machine by conveyor 50 for sacking or storage as a finished product. The coarser material ormiddlings is worked orpassed through the coarser mesh silk or wire in the cut-off 112 and delivered'to the conveyor 53, by which it is conveyed to the lower end of the elevator 54 and delivered at the upper endof said elevator to the conveyor 59, said conveyer delivering it to the feeder or distributer 56, from which it drops onto the middlings-grader portion of the shoe or shaker 21 and is directed through the first reduction rolls 78, 7 9, and also through the middlings grinder 75. The two separated portions of this materiahare again brought together within the hopper and conveyed by the conveyer82 into the first reduction reel Set; The flouris sifted out of this material through the fine mesh silk orwire 86 and directed into the hopper 1-? and from the latter into the hopper 90 to be conveyed out of the machine as a finished product by the conveyer' 95. The roars c material in this first reduction reel is passed or worked through the coarser mesh silk or wire 88 ofthe cut-off 87 of said reel and carried to the conveyor 99 from which i is directed forwardly into the roll section and delivered from the second feed or or distributor 101 to the second pair of reduction rolls 103, 1041-, to be further reduced thereby. From these rolls the material is delivered into the hopper 105 and conveyed by the conveyor 107 to the second reduction reei 109, from which the flour is sifted out and enters the hopper 90 to be conveyed from the machine by the conveyer for sacking or storage, the offal being tailed: out through the rear end of said reel and delivered out of' the machine in any suitable manner. The ofi'al remaining after sifti ggout the material through the cut-01f of'the first reduction reel is also tailed out from therear end of said reel anddelivered out of the machine in any suitable manner;

From the foregoing, it is apparent that stock fed into the machine is carried through a portion of the machine second time, and that, therefore, a larger yield of flour is obtainable from a given quantity ofstock than would be otherwise possible. At the same time, provision is made so that only high quality flour is produced through the operation of the parts, since tailings-or offal are conveyed'ont of the machine at different times during the passage of the stock through the machine.

By combining a conveyer with a feeder or distributer and utilizing part of said conveyer as part of said feeder or distributor, themachine may be economically constructed while having advantages addedthereto not otherwise known; and by. providing a middlings grader in which the fine middlings are separated'froin the coarse, and one or both parts reduced or ground, the length of travel of the stock through the machine may be reduced or, in other words, the number of operating steps to which this stock is subjected'may be diminished, yet assurance had that all flour'which the stock contains will be fully and properly bolted out.

Another advantage of my invention is that middlings may be graded or separated within the roll section of the reel and delivered to separate reduction means so as to more effectively reduce the middlings to flour and to deliver the reduced middlings to suitable means for bolting out the flour under what I term a shortcut method; thus saving time while increasing the yield of flour, increasing the capacity of the machine, and consequently reducing the cost of production.

By the use of my improved feeder or distributer in conjunction with means of length, such as provided by the use-of a' pairof reduction rolls, the stock is spread out and delivered the full length of said rolls in uniform thickness or even flow, thereby assuring increased capacity and greater efficiency in action.

I'have found that after passing material through the first pair of break rolls and sifting out the flour from the reduced stock and then passing this stock with the fiour removed through reduction rolls and an additional pair of break rolls with intermediate flour-sifting steps, particles of the stock are not fully reduced and a certain percentage of flour is carried out of the ma- 1 chine as partof the offal, and for this reason I have provided means within the reel section for grading the middlings and delix'ering the coarser portion to a suitable middling grinder it a ed o t de of the reel reduction 1 section and then returning the ground material to the reel scction'i'or bolting out the flour.

Other advantages of my invention will be clearly apparent i'roin the examination of the drawings and preceding description of the operation of this machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A mill of the kind described, comprising a casing having a roll section provided with break rolls and reduction rolls, a reel section provided with bolting reels, means for conveying material from said rolls to said reels, means for re-conveying the material from certain of said reels to certain of said rolls including a materials-grader whereby the finer materialis delivered to said last-mentioned rolls to be returned to said reel section for further treatment, and independent grinding or reducing means adapted to receive the coarser n'iaterial from said materials-grader to be returned to said reel section for further treatment.

2. In a mill of the kind described, the combination of a casing having a roll section equipped with break and reduction rolls,

a reel section separated from said roll section and provided with means for bolting the material delivered thereinto, means for conveying material from said rolls to said bolting means, means for re-conveying middlings from said bolting means to certain of said rolls, and means for grading said reconveyed middlings within said roll section preparatory to reducing the same and returning the further reduced material to said bolting means.

3. In a mill of the kind described, the combination with a casing, of break rolls, reduction rolls, and bolting means within said casing, means for conveying material from said break rolls and reduction rolls to said bolting means, means for re-conveying middlings from said bolting means to said reduction rolls, means for diverting a portion of said middlings, and a separate grinder to. receive the diverted portion of said middlings for grinding the same, said grinder being arranged to permit ground material to be returned to said bolting means.

4. In a mill of the kind described, the coniibination of break rolls, reduction rolls, bolting means arranged for bolting out flour from flour-producing material, and a separate middlings grinder to receive middlings diverted from said reduction rolls to be returned to said bolting means.

5. In a mill of the kind described, the com bination with a casing having two separate sections, reduction rolls in one of said sections, bolting means in the other section, means for conveyin material from said reduction rolls ,to sai bolting means, a separate middlings grinder, means for conveying separated parts of middlings from said bolting means to said reduction rolls and separate grinder, respectively, and means for bringing the parts of said middlings passed through said reduction rolls and said grinder together to return the same to said bolting means through said conveying means.

6. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a casing having a roll. section provided with break rolls and reduction rolls, a reel section separated from said roll section and provided with a plurality of bolting reels, a shaking device situated above a pair of said break rolls and above a pair of said reduction rolls, said shaking device including a middlings grader, means for conveying material from said break rolls and from said reduction rolls to said bolting'reels, means for re-conveying the material from one of said bolting reels to said middlings grader, and a middlings grinder receiving a portion of the middlings from said middlings grader, said middlings grader being adapted to deliver a portion of said middlings to the reduction rolls beneath the same, the reduced middlings passing through said grinder and reduction rolls being conveyed to said reel section for bolting out the flour therefrom.

7. In a mill of the kind described, the combination with a pair of reduction rolls, of a middlings grinder, and a moving middlings grader having a screen portion situated to deliver the finer part of the middlings to said reduction rolls and having means to deliver the coarser part of said middlings to said middlings grinder.

8. In a mill of the kind described, the combination with a casing divided into a roll section and a reel or bolting section, of means for grading middlings in said roll section, different means of reduction receiving the graded middlings, and means for conveying the material having passed through said different means of reduction to said reel or bolting section.

9. In a mill of the kind described, having a roll section, a reel or bolting section in which flour is bolted from stock passed therethrough, means to grade middlings in said reel or bolting sections, a middlings grinder in said roll section, means for conveying one portion of the graded middlings from said reel or bolting section to said middlings grinder, and means to return the ground stock from said middlings grinder to said reel. or bolting section.

10. In a mill of the kind described, a reel section having a plurality of bolting reels and means to grade middlings, a middlings grinder situated outside of said reel section, means to convey one part of said graded middlings to said middlings grinder, and means to return the ground middlings having passed. through said. middlings grinder tion containing liour bo.

.tor conve toanother reel within said reel section to .boltout the flour therefrom.

ll. A mill of the kind described having a reel section provided with a plurality of bolting reels, one of said bolting reels havgrinder, means for conveying said coarser material to said -middlings grinder, and means for returningthe middlings to any of said reels.

13. A mill of-the kind described having a pair of reduction rolls, a middlings grinder comprising a casingand a rotatable grinding element therein, a middlings g ader feeding to said reduction ,rolls and grinder, and means to ,receive the ground material from said grinder and reduction rolls, said means having connection with said middlings gra derito i eed middlings thereto.

let. In a mill of the kind j described, the combinationof va easing having a roll section containing first and second breakand first and second reduction rolls, a reel secv ing reels, .means 111g materi al' from said first break rolls to said second b reakrolls and also to one of said boltin-greels, means'for conveying finished flour from said reel, means 't'or conveying middlings.from said reelto the lir l'CdUUilOH rolls, means for conveying .material vfrom .said first reduction rolls said,secondmeduction rollsto arthirdbolting the reel, means for conveying l1 ur trom saii third bolting reel, means for conveying tailings out oil the mill from said third bolting reel, :1 scalper receiving material from said second break rolls, means for delivering bran from said scalper out of the mill and for delivering the finer material passing through said scalpel into a fourth bolting reel, means for conveying 'Ilour from said fourth bolting reel, means for convey.-

ing tailings out of the mill from said fourth bolting eel, and means for conveying middlings from said fourth bolting reel to the means for conveying materialto said first reduction rolls, the means for conveying material from said first reduction rolls to said second bolting reel, the means for delivering lour fromsaid second bolting reel, the means for conveying material from said second bolting reel to said second reduction rolls, the means for conveying materialfrom said reduction rolls to said third bolting reel, the means for conveying flour from said third bolting reel, and the means ,for delivering tailings from saidthird bolting reel being each utilized a second time for runof material not completely disposedof in itsfirst run through the mill.

1 5. A mill oi? the kind described comprising a casing having a roll section containing lirst and second break and first and second reduction rolls, a reel section containing fourbolting reels, means for conveying material to said first break rolls, means for dividing the material passed through said lirst'break rolls into two parts, means for conveying one part of said material tonne of said bolting reels and the other part thereof to the second breakrolls, means for dividing the material .passed through said scco d' break rolls into two parts, means for conveying one of said last-mentioned parts out oi: the m ll, means for conveying other part ton second bolting reel, and ins for conveying part of the material 6d through said lirst' bolting reel and said second belting reel through the first reduction rolls and through the remaining beltihfi ree s- In test mony whereof I allix my signature.

icniiR ns "r. HOWSON. V 

